Argosy All-Story Weekly — "Sea Marauders" — page 18: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

440 The yacht had lifted anchor half an hour before, passed through the nar- row passage in the reef, and was al- ready hulldown on the skyline. She was on her way to fetch another dozen New York idlers who desired a sample of Robinson Crusoé de luxe. He wished he was on board of her. Presently he rose and ran into the water. ‘The temperature was about seventy-five, its feeling was delicious. He lay on his back and floated, the ocean covering his ears, and reveled in the voluptuousness of it. CHAPTER III. THE GREEN LAGOON. SPLASH near by caused him to lift his head, and he looked into the blue eyes of Mildred Lover- ing a dozen feet away. “ Hello!’ she said with a devastat- ing smile. “ Great, isn’t it?”’ He was so astonished he couldn’t an- swer for a moment, but he began to tread water, and he smiled back at the unexpected bather. “ Good morning, Miss Lovering,” he said. “I didn’t hear you until just now.” “I’m forbidden to bathe in the lagoon,” she said rather breathlessly, for she had been swimming hard. “ But I looked out my :window and saw you going in; so | thought I would stealaswim. It1 isn’t dangerous, is it?” * Not if we keep fairly close to the shore. And [ don’t think the sharks here are the man-eating variety any- way.” “Tt’s so much nicer than that old pool. I love surf bathing, but the coral rock on the ocean side makes it 1m- possible. How do you like my island, Mr. Reardon ?”’ “It’s a paradise,” €: ar eiag “Why a but? Is there a ‘serpent in it?’ she laughed. “Probably not. he sighed, If I were a guest ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY. I suppose I would adore it but I am an employee—”’ “Pshaw,” she retorted. as good as any of us. course.” “Let's go up and lie on the sand,” she proposed. She swam shoreward, and he fol- lowed. With the nonchalance of the modern bathing girl she threw herself on the sand and kicked her legs in the air. “We'll do this every morning,” declared. “It’s marvelous.” “Won't your father—” “What he doesn’t know won’t hurt him,” she laughed. “ Nobody will be up before nine o’clock. Our crowd stay up late and sleep most of the morn- ing. I can’t be bothered with sleep when life is so gorgeous. I'll tell you what, (ll make father invite you up to the house evenings. I’m sure you are a good dancer.” ** Please, don’t,’ he said. ‘f You are vety democratic, but I’m sure the others wouldn’t care much for my presence. After all, [’'m a sort of servant.” “Nonsense, you’re a most romantic person—a wireless man. Father said he got you off an ocean liner. Were you ever in a shipwreck?” Once” “And you sent out S. O. S. calls until the ship went down?” He laughed and shook his head. “* No indeed. The power gave out hours be- fore she sank, and I pulled an oar in the first boat that left the ship.” “Wasn't it thrilling ?” “Tl am afraid I didn’t appreciate that part of it. JI was scared.” “YT don’t believe it,’” she retorted. “Tm sure you werea hero. Let’s have one more plunge, and then D ll fly back. Give me your hand.” While he tingled from head to foot at the touch of her little hand, he ran with her into the brilliant green water. She swam with a speedy crawl which “You are You dance, of she com Bere oe a as Gq BOOKere com : So ag ee ep os te Pan ~* Line ate > 5 ~ Ok. me ~ ae Se 8S Na a pO AD ee eee a wo ooh <>? ‘Pe et ae